Hatfield House
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Temporarily closed until further notice

Hatfield House

Hatfield House
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksGardens
Temporarily closedClosed until further notice
About
The Park, Gardens & Woodland Walks are open each Wednesday to Sunday from 1st April 2023. The East Garden is only open on Wednesdays. Hatfield House itself is now closed for the season.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Kerry T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly Recommend
    A beautiful property, with so much to see. Dermot our amazing tour guide, really made the building and history come to life with his stories and passion. Will certainly return with the family. Highly recommended.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled on business
    Written March 24, 2023
  • Kom13
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful place !
    Great place to spend a full day ! The house is full of heritage and history. Really wonderful. There are now nice shops Cafe etc at the entrance , the gardens are mesmerising! Plenty of space for the kids to ply and love it ! We were lucky to visit while there was a drive in kids movie ! Fantastic arrangement with a bus bar parked , fast food , coffees lovely atmosphere , highly recommending
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written March 26, 2023
  • Charlotte R
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely day out
    We had a fab day out here exploring the grounds and gardens. All of the staff are so lovely and helpful and a special shout out to Dermot - his passion and enthusiasm for the house and grounds is so lovely to see and has some really interesting stories about the house to share. Would love to come back once the house is open again.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 2, 2023
  • Jo C
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of my favourite places
    Had a wonderful visit to the gardens today after they opened up again for the new season. We were welcomed by Dermot and it was lovely to see his friendly face again. I have purchased a garden season ticket this year. Looking forward to many more visits.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 2, 2023
  • Emma R
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Horrible Histories Tour
    My 10 year old and I experienced a Horrible History experience with tour guide Dermot who was excellent. I learnt about local history through his captivating and amusing storytelling and my daughter was transfixed. I highly recommend this activity. The only way this visit could have been improved would be for the children's playground to be re-opened!
    Visited March 2023
    Written April 10, 2023
  • Grete C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great experience at Hatfield
    We enjoyed the whole hatfield garden experience and especially the old palace tour. The tour was excellent because of the guide in particular. He took us on a historical journey with knowledge and engagement. We strongly reccomend Hatfield to everyone.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 11, 2023
  • Lennie
    Milton Keynes, United Kingdom59 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unique history of Old Palace, great tour and beautiful gardens
    Main house closed until June, but great tours of Old Palace and gardens. The Old Palace tour was by Liam, he explained the life and wives of Henry VIII and the unique history of the Old Palace as an education centre for royalty, then as a neglected stables. Lots of amazing facts but delivered with humour that really held everyone's attention. Thank you so much Liam, we really enjoyed the tour.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 18, 2023
  • Dunstan45
    United Kingdom52 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Splendid step back in Hatfield History.
    What an amazing place, we arrived mid-morning on a really nice day there is a charge for entry to the grounds which in my opinion is well worth the money. We also decided to go on a guided tour of Hatfield old Palace ( Former residence of Queen Elizabeth I)which was led by Dermot who has an amazing personality and passion for the Hatfield Estate and Elizabeth I it is here that Queen Elizabeth and William Cecil shaped the Country in 1558. This is a place you should visit with its splendid views an dripping in some of England's most important Historical decisions were made. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers and not forgetting the current Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury for the upkeep of such an important landmark.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 30, 2023
  • beaufortrotterdam
    Brussels, Belgium4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Guide Liam is the best!
    Ask Liam for a tour! Today he was our guide in the Old Palace and his tour was very good!! The timing was perfect, his enthusiasm great and his explanation clear. We just learned a lot. Liam is a real professional!!
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 3, 2023
  • Laura D
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Making wonderful memories
    We visited today, had lunch, walked around the woodland area and did the old palace tour, Jill was brilliant, very knowledgeable. To finish the lovely Neil drove us around in the buggy to the front of the house. Neil had so much time for us, answering our questions and is a true gentleman. Thank you Neil! We will be back again, but next time ensure we come earlier to walk amongst the grounds and also visit the house when it opens in June!
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 4, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,550 reviews
Excellent
921
Very good
338
Average
143
Poor
62
Terrible
86

Anita S
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Just been to breakfast at Hatfield House restaurant for a treat for Mother’s Day. We are members of friends of Hatfield House and have been for sometime. Today we had booked to have a family Mother’s Day breakfast (booked many weeks in advance) and which we have had in previous years. Was not very impressed today though! To be told on arrival that the table is required back after 1hr and 45 minutes is not very customer friendly, especially as the occasion is not just an ordinary day, and if you have family members coming from further afield this is not good enough.
Written March 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leah H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Took the kids to Hatfield house for the half term experience. Absolutely fantastic and have bought a membership now. Beautiful long walk and made bird feeders. Then took the truck ride and a lovely man named Dermot was explaining some of the history of the area. Showed us where Paddington was filmed and was generally very lovely! Can’t wait to go loads through the season.
Written February 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D H P
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
A lovely time at their half term activities. Great outdoor crafts for the children, an amazing tour with our fantastic tour guide Dermot, and a lovely lunch in Coach House Kitchen. Will be coming back when the house and gardens open in the spring!
Written February 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

es h
Cuffley, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
I visited Hatfield house with my two young children and our friends during February half term. We had a lovely time, we were taken by vehicle to the marquee on the stunning grounds where the children got to make bird feeders and bug hotels. We were given lots of information about the grounds by the lovely staff one in particular Dermott who was very friendly and knowledgeable to say the least. We then took a short walk to the castle and did some bird watching , once finished we were collected by vehicle and taken on a tour around the stunning grounds of hatfield house. We then had some lunch in the coach house kitchen.
Overall we had a lovely day and will be back to do the tour of the house itself in the summer and some more half term days out.
If you haven't been you must go to explore the beautiful location and woods!
You will be able to see the bird feeders / bug hotel pics we made which we put in pur garden.
Written February 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SASBullet
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
The Christmas Revels event was a complete disaster for Hatfield House.

We paid around £100 for the family, including a £6 parking fee, for what turned out to be the viewing of the House’s kitchen, some statues and nothing else. We were done in 20 minutes and lost that Christmas spirit.

My wife complained to the Court Jester positioned at the exit, who was a lonesome figure and did his best to cheer us up with some jokes and games, but I felt he too was embarrassed by the whole charade.

As we returned to our car I saw the Jester in civvy clothing legging it out of Hatfield House.

Not sure who signed off this scam, but it was our first visit to the House and probably our last. Such a shame.
Written January 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matthew P
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
The stars are for the tour. Dermott was an engaging delight for all ages, bringing the past to life with little to go on (we only had access to the Palace and not the House). A natural storyteller with an infectious passion for history and the importance of personal research. My 9 and 12 year old were gripped and we have come away with a list of related locations to visit in order to keep their interest in history going.

The other reviews tell the slightly sad truth about the underwhelming Christmas tour, but Dermott transformed our rather soggy day with an Elizabethan tour-de-force!
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LoveTravel256828
Hillingdon, UK1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
VisitescChristmas Revels at Hatfield totally disappointing, no shops opened only a small top up shop, Elizabeth I looked nothing like the original even with the statues around only the visit with Dermott in The Old Palace so amazing as the host with his amazing knowledge at ease with him you should do more tours m, there should be more variety of gifts aimed at Hatfield House with magnets etc
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lucy G
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
This worked well as a winter dayout, although it would have been good to see more of the House and grounds, as these are beautiful. The highlight was the tour of the Old Palace. The guide, Dermot, was very engaging and his talk captured the imaginations of our young children. I'm very pleased we went and we will definitely be back
Written December 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AtkinsS
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
Lovely day out with friends. Staff were really friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. Dermot our guide gave a fantastic talk about the history of the house and monarchy. It was wonderful hear someone speak so passionately! Well worth a visit. There are lots of opportunities develop the site further particularly around Christmas time. Perhaps a light show, Christmas stalls etc to draw in more families. Will be visiting again when the house is open.
Written December 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Liba27
London, UK2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
I should have checked the reviews here as there is clearly a pattern. It was four of us going to see the extremely engaging (at least on paper) Christmas event of “Fantastical Christmas Revels”. However, the reality left me fuming. All you get to see is one room - an extremely well decorated kitchen. And as lovely as it was to see it, to pay for a visit to “any” House and see just one room is quite frankly rude and leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
I was expecting so much from this visit. I couldn’t wait to go and see it but what an absolute joke. I felt so embarrassed about out Hatfield trip I kept apologising to my family for this silly trip idea for the rest of the day.
Please avoid.
Having said that, there was one person redeeming this complete car crash. We have taken the non Christmas related tour of the house. In reality just two rooms however, the guide was outstanding. A lovely Irish chap called Dermot(?). So passionate and knowledgeable. I hope Hatfield House knows how lucky they are to have you there.
Written December 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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